Well I just watched the end of this game and it is one of the best I have played. In fact it's the best since Syberia.

It was just such a blast, great characters, love Liquor the group that does the "Runaway" song, the story was awesome. Little accolade to MI - look closely at the clouds and there is a very familiar looking chicken. Also great salute to Risky Business.

Thank you Tr-Synergy, Pebdulo and GoGamer for getting it to me. WOWOWOWOW.

One tip - when you get to the end - be sure and sit through the credits.

How many hours did it take you to play it? Seems to me you just got it..By your post it was worth the money,,I cant wait till the stores get it..Better hurry with another wonderful review...and maybe a walkthrough...

WOW Laura, I finally got through chapter 3! I laughed so hard my belly hurts! What a story! Getting through the chapter required that I try some of the dardest things, but finally got it all.Peanut butter...ugh! I loved those gals; Guys?Whatever. Will start on the next chapter tomorrow.Well worth the money, and the trouble. Will the cd play as a music cd? I would sure like to play that wonderful music again. I know that you can do that with some other game disks.

Mine got here Thursday early afternoon. I played up to chapter three late that night . Relaxed a bit Played all Friday evening and from early this morning. I'd say I put about 15 hours. But then chapter 2 was the demo for this game, so once I started recalling what I had done before it went real fast. The first time I played the demo I spent quite a bit of time on it. I think people will get more than that and even longer. The game does get very hinty in the last 3 chapters. Thing is the game was as long as it needed to be. You are going to get really absorbed in it. I still hear the title song bouncing around in my head.

I tried to isolate the music - but I think they are integrated into the video - cause I couldn;t locate any separate music files so far.

The story is so fresh and different. Kind of a crazy quilt of movie references and homages to this game or that. They did "Hollywood Monsters" before Runaway so it make sense. The characters are totally unique. Reminds me of a Monkey Island game where there were all these definitely different" kinds of folks and such. I can't wait to see Runaway 2. I dearly hope some of the game characters make a return appearance.

So many twists and turns and internal secondary plot twists - well I don;t want to spoil a thing. The game gets better and better as you get into it.

Done already? Would you say it was about the same length as Syberia? I'm just stating the 2nd chapter (in the museum ). Trying to take it slow so the game will last. After all that waiting, I don't want to finish the game in just 2 or 3 days!

I like the little touches in this game, like how Brian appears on the inventory page and gives his comments when you examine an item, or how he looks down 'off screen' when you examine the contents of Gina's bag. Even the sound effects as he rustles through the contents.

I hope the rumors of a sequel are true, and I hope it dosn't take 3 or 4 years to get our hands on it!

Hollywood Monsters just slipped through the publishing cracks. Unless a retro ppublisher picks it up - doubt we'll ever see it. Plus I don't think an english version was ever made (thought I could be off on that point)

I really can't say on Syberia - I played that game non-stop night and day. Maybe 20 or longer, hard to remember. It seems like it had to be longer because I was stuck in more than a couple of places and it had so many areas.

It didn't feel short at all - I just felt totally absorbed and consumed with the story.

Runaway didn't feel short either. I just really got into the story and such and didn't want to stop at one point. Once I crossed into chapter 5, I didn't even hardly save my game. I think of a game as short - when there are artificial extenders or you spend a lot of time stuck. Here there are no loose ends, the plot is complex and well developed. It was just as long as it needed to be.

It gets easier I thought - but with easier puzzles came a more complicated story. You really want to listen to these characters.

The sequal has definitely been commited to in german interviews - just not here yet. SO I feel pretty safe in saying a sequal is in the works now.

I am replaying some parts now to verify some trigger actions. It's still great fun. LOL You are right about the little touches Louis. I love the way Brian taps on the inventory screen if you take too long sitting with it open. It is really such a well crafted game. I don;t think anything was overlooked. These guys are real craftsmen. Aside from reports of video trouble on certain configs - (didn't happen to me) I haven't hit one single bug, glitch or dead end. I think if you loved Curse of Monkey Island, Broken Sword you will flip over this game. If third person cartoon rendered graphics aren't your cup of tea - then maybe not. Right now this game is real close to my top 10 list - definitely top 20 ever.

I'd say with Syberia 2, Broken Sword 3, URU and Runaway: 2003 is going to rival 1996 as one of the best years for adventure games.

Thanks Laura for all this inside info on this game. It musta' been four years ago that I first heard of this game and immediately I was looking forward to it, which has only happened a few times as I have been concentrating for years on laying hands on the old classics to play before OS progress rendered them unplayable.

I just finished and thoroughly enjoyed it. What mostly set me back was not looking closely enough for items. Once they were in inventory, they pretty much steered in the proper direction. I agree with you Laura,this one is a close second to Syberia.

I do hope you sat through the credits at the end. I usually click through them - but I sat there and just listened to the music. Boy - sure glad I did.

This game may be just a personal fit - but it really got to me. It just resonated in all the right ways. Probably wasn;t perfect - no game is - but I sure did smile like a crazy person as I finished it.

now that you are done, did you ever have to swap discs. in the hints thread you said you didn't have to but i don't know how far into the gmae you were at that point. if you didn't exactly how did you manage to do that.

Laura, I did sit through the credits per your advice and the music and scenes after were worth the wait. Our hero certainly went through a metamorphosis from total nerd to ultra cool. Plenty of hints that that there will probably be a sequel. Cannot wait!Carole